The Holocene Calendar

In Dec 1993, the geologist Cesare Emiliani submitted a letter to the journal Nature in which he proposed that the BC/AD calendar be scrapped and replaced with a calendar that would set year 1 at the beginning of the Holocene geological epoch, approximately 12,000 years ago. This, he argued, was when the "human era" in the history of the world began, and so was a date that had significance to all world civilizations.

In his scheme, all existing AD years would be changed by simply adding 10,000 to them. So 2023 would become 12,023.



His proposal makes a lot of sense. Not least because it would eliminate all the weirdness with BC dates, such as the oddity that even though the BC years are counted backwards, their days and months run forwards.

More info: wikipedia

Posted By: Alex - Fri Aug 18, 2023 - Comments (3)
Category: Centuries

The Strange World of Divorce

While it might be fairly common for couples to get a divorce in the United States these days, it's certainly not easy. There are questions of support, custody issues if there are children involved, and bitter arguments over who gets to keep what; all of which can drag a divorce into months of stress. But what is it like in other cultures and in other times? In centuries past, in China, a divorce could be granted for any number of reasons, so long as the bride's family agreed to take her back. Aborigine women in Australia can convince their husbands to grant a divorce but if that's not working, then all they need to do is elope with someone else. The ancient Athenians and modern-day Eskimos share an extremely simple divorce process - live separately as though they were never married. In the UK, a man tired of his wife could slip a halter around her neck, lead her into town to the cattle market, and sell her to the highest bidder. Japan had a much more advanced view, however. Marriage was not sacred and divorce was not immoral - it was merely a mismatch between families. Women's dowrys were returned in the hopes of encouraging re-marriage. You can read more on Purple Slinky, and on Hope's Blog, and in this review.

Posted By: Nethie - Sat Jul 31, 2010 - Comments (4)
Category: Anniversary, Centuries, Ceremonies, Weddings, Customs, Foreign Customs, Marriage

George Putnam, RIP

TV newscaster George Putnam has died. Read his LOS ANGELES TIMES obituary here.

Putnam was frequently cited as the inspiration for the Ted Baxter character on THE MARY TYLER MOORE show.

Make your own judgment based on the videos below.

Posted By: Paul - Tue Sep 16, 2008 - Comments (5)
Category: Centuries, Death, Obituaries, Entertainment, Actors, Hollywood, ShowBiz, Stupidity, Television